The name Bearman reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bearman family lived in any of several places of this name in the counties of Middlesex and Kent having derived from the Old English words beorg, meaning hill, and ham, meaning homestead.

Bearman Early Origins

The surname Bearman was first found in Kent, where Barham is a village and civil parish in the City of Canterbury. It was listed as Bioraham in 799 and later as Bercheham in the Domesday Book.[1]CITATION[CLOSE]Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) The first record of the surname was Warine de Berham, as holding lands in Kent in 1203.

Bearman Spelling Variations

Bearman Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Bearman family name include Barham, Bareham, Barrham, Braham, Bearham, Bereham and many more.

Bearman Early History

Bearman Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bearman research. Another 203 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1535, 1390, 1391, 1634, 1621, 1595, 1667, 1625 and 1626 are included under the topic Early Bearman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bearman Early Notables (pre 1700)

Bearman Early Notables (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Richard de Berham, Sheriff of Kent (1390-1391); Sir Edward Barkham (died 1634), an English merchant, Lord Mayor of London...

Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bearman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Bearman family to immigrate North America:

Bearman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Wolf W Bearman, who landed in Mississippi in 1879

Abraham Bearman, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1892

Bearman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Simon Bearman, aged 32, who emigrated to the United States from London, in 1900

Samuel Bearman, aged 45, who landed in America from Bradford, in 1906

Harry Mayor Bearman, aged 22, who emigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1908

Rosa Bearman, aged 50, who emigrated to America from London, England, in 1908

Other References

Shirley, Evelyn Philip. Noble and Gentle Men of England Or Notes Touching The Arms and Descendants of the Ancient Knightley and Gentle Houses of England Arranged in their Respective Counties 3rd Edition. Westminster: John Bowyer Nichols and Sons, 1866. Print.

Colletta, John P. They Came In Ships. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1993. Print.

Skordas, Guest. Ed. The Early Settlers of Maryland an Index to Names or Immigrants Complied from Records of Land Patents 1633-1680 in the Hall of Records Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1968. Print.

The Bearman Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Bearman Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.